Hospital and Birth Center Stories

This episode features Denver mama, Alaina, who struggled to get pregnant and had two miscarriages before using Clomid for her 3rd pregnancy, and gave birth in a hospital setting. She found out she was pregnant again without any outside assistance just a year later and gave birth at a birth center, having an unexpected waterbirth.

Alaina Isbouts Bio

Alaina and her husband Philip met while living abroad in Prague, and quickly bonded over their mutual love of travel and shared view of the world around them. Though they got engaged very quickly, they enjoyed their time together traveling before they bought a house, settled down, and decided to try for a family. It unexpectedly took them a year and a half before they got pregnant with their first, a natural miscarriage at home. Eight months later, in a new home and new city, they found out they were once again pregnant. Once again, the pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. Alaina and Philip went through fertility testing and were finally able to have a healthy pregnancy with the help of Clomid. Her first birth was a 20-hour natural birth in a hospital.

Shortly after celebrating their baby’s first birthday, Alaina found out she was unexpectedly pregnant, though she was still nursing and not taking any fertility medications. This time they decided to go with a birth center, and ended up with a beautiful and unplanned waterbirth. She currently calls Denver home, along with her husband of eight years and their two boys, Julian (3) and Finley (11 months). Alaina is a freelance editor and writer, and you can find her online at alainaisbouts.com. She is on Instagram and Twitter @alainaisbouts.

Cesarean Birth Story

The birth of Hailey’s daughter did not go according to plan. After 14 hours in labor, she was told her baby was in distress and she would need an emergency C-section. Needless to say, her carefully laid plan fell quickly by the wayside. After this experience, she feels that no matter how much you read and how many stories you hear from fellow mamas, nothing can prepare you for your own birth story. Hailey also shares her experience using the Ava Bracelet to get pregnant.

Hailey Walker Bio

Hailey is a 29-year-old Houston, Texas native. She graduated from the University of Houston and served as Marketing Manager for a commercial real estate company before the birth of her daughter, Hudson, this past summer. After a miscarriage in 2017, it quickly became apparent to Hailey that although she was not alone, many women felt compelled to grieve for their unborn children in silence. Hailey has since felt a calling to share her story of loss in hopes that it might provide comfort and hope for a heartbroken mother. In her spare time, Hailey loves to cook, shop, and travel back to Houston to spend time with family and friends. She lives in Denver, CO with her husband, daughter and two Labradors.

Avawomen

This episode is sponsored by Ava Women. Wear the Ava bracelet while you sleep for effortless insight about your fertility, your cycle, and your health. Ava monitors nine physiological parameters and is clinically proven to detect the beginning of the fertile window in real time. You can use the promo code: BIRTHSTORIES for $20 off each order at avawomen.com

In honor of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month we are sharing this beautiful story again.

Same-sex couple Mariel and Viviana knew they always wanted a baby; so, a year into their marriage they began trying to conceive by the traditional route of IUI’s with frozen sperm via a sperm bank. After nearly a dozen failed tries, they switched gears to a known-donor and were quickly pregnant. Early on in Viviana’s pregnancy she began having complications, and on the same day of her anatomy scan at 20 weeks and 6 days, Viviana’s water bag prolapsed and broke. Tune in to hear the details of their devastating infant loss due to incompetent cervix and the redemption story of their boy/girl rainbow babies conceived within 7 days of each other and born only three days apart. Follow their journey on Instagram at @moderndaytwins.

Viviana Bio

I don’t have a hometown, but if I had to claim one, it would be Dallas, TX. I met Mariel in college at UNT and quickly fell in love. A few years into our dating, and after moving to Austin, she asked me to marry her; so, we had a ceremony in TX and made it legal in NYC when I was 29 and she was 22. I’ve always wanted to be a mother and never could have guessed the road to realizing it would be so hard. Now the Mama to my “modern day twins” and my little angel baby in heaven, I’m at peace. My loss and the birth world has been truly inspirational to me so I share as much as I can on social media and hope to give back somehow. Connect with me on Instagram at @vivianarchy.

Mariel Bio

I grew up in Brownsville, TX, which is on the Texas/Mexico border and never lived anywhere else until I left for college where I met Viviana and instantly fell in love. Up until meeting her, my life was pretty vanilla: I had a set goal, and was meeting every expectation my very traditional Mexican family set out for me. Then, all of a sudden, I threw all of that out of the window and started taking risks I’d never imagine were possible – I graduated college in three years and moved to the most expensive city in Texas without a job just so I could finally live passionately. It’s been a roller coaster ride with many ups and downs, but despite the uncertainties, we’ve always managed to land on our feet and have been blessed beyond measure. I love to tell our story to anybody that will listen so that people see that there is hope so long as you don’t give up and are willing to take as many detours as life throws your way. Connect with me on Instagram at @cafesitamami.

Aeroflow Breastpumps

Want to learn how to get a free breast pump through insurance? Aeroflow Breastpumps has helped thousands of new and expecting moms find the perfect pump for her lifestyle. They offer all major pump brands including Medela, Spectra, and Lansinoh. And the best part, they take care of everything – from getting all required paperwork and dealing with your insurance company to explaining your options and getting your free pump shipped straight to your door. All you have to go to the Aeroflow Breastpumps website and fill out their free and easy Qualify Through Insurance form. Be sure to go to aeroflowbreastpumps.com/birthhour so they will know I sent you!

Five Very Different Births

As a neonatal nurse, Sigrid thought she was well prepared for her first birth in 2008, but was totally knocked over by mainstream medicine’s “factory-style” birth care. She was induced, got an epidural, then pushed for three hours flat on her back before her cesarean section for “cephalopelvic disproportion.”

Two years later, she had the most empowering experience of her life when she had a natural midwife-supported, Hypnobabies 9 lb 8 oz VBAC in the hospital. Her passion for natural birth and midwifery model of care was sparked here and has only continued to grow over the years.

In 2013, Sigrid had an intense but healing home water birth of a rainbow baby after two back-to-back miscarriages, including one with severe life-threatening obstetric hemorrhage. Her fourth birth, in 2014, was a precipitous accidentally-unassisted (almost) pain free birth at 42 weeks 5 days. This baby was caught by Sigrid’s husband, Isaac, in the tiny master bathroom of their home.

Today’s podcast features the story of Sigrid’s most recent birth in May 2018— the homebirth of her 11 lb 6 oz son complete with 4 minute shoulder dystocia and 6 minute neonatal resuscitation.

Sigrid’s kids all think it is hilarious that they were each born in a different place: an OR table, a hospital bed, a birth pool, over a toilet (they break into unbridled laughter at this point), and the family room hardwood floor. My birth team included midwife Maura Winkler of Fika Midwifery and birth photographer Shawna Stanley.

Sigrid Chapman Bio

As a mom of five, with a wide range of personal birth experiences to inspire her, Sigrid has developed a passion to joyfully support moms and babies on their journeys through birth and breastfeeding.

Sigrid holds a bachelors of science in nursing and has eleven years of experience, first as a newborn nurse skilled in neonatal resuscitation and now as a labor and delivery nurse with certification in fetal monitoring. She became an international board certified lactation consultant in 2012 and has been assisting at home births since 2014.

When she isn’t working, Sigrid can be found homeschooling and mothering Judah, Galilee, Shiloh, Calah, and Ari with her awesome husband Isaac and sweet dog Cody. She is a devout Christian and lover of good coffee, midwifery memoirs, IKEA, Thai food, and the concept of hygge, who calls Buffalo, NY home. You can connect with her on Instagram: @stretch_studentmidwife.

Aeroflow Breastpumps

Want to learn how to get a free breast pump through insurance? Aeroflow Breastpumps has helped thousands of new and expecting moms find the perfect pump for her lifestyle. They offer all major pump brands including Medela, Spectra, and Lansinoh. And the best part, they take care of everything – from getting all required paperwork and dealing with your insurance company to explaining your options and getting your free pump shipped straight to your door. All you have to go to the Aeroflow Breastpumps website and fill out their free and easy Qualify Through Insurance form. Be sure to go to aeroflowbreastpumps.com/birthhour so they will know I sent you!

Pregnancy Loss and Working with High Risk OBGYN

Erika began her pregnancy journey fairly easily, and discovered she was pregnant the very first month she and her husband, Dan, decided to start trying. After some bleeding and cramping at 6 weeks, this pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, followed by a D&C at 9 weeks. Due to some abnormal blood-work, Erika’s OB suggested she see a rheumatologist before trying to conceive again, which kicked off a year of doctor visits and trying to find answers in order to prevent another loss. After being medicated for mild Hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s, suspected Lupus, and Antiphospholipid Syndrome, she felt confident in beginning to try for another pregnancy.

The second pregnancy came at the exact same time of year as the last one and ended at the same time of year as well. At the 7 week ultrasound, there was no heartbeat found, and the pregnancy was terminated by using misoprostol. Erika decided to meet with a High Risk OBGYN to discuss loss prevention and a quick two months later, she was pregnant again, with her now first child Tyber Bruno.

Placenta Previa and bleeding episodes at 33 weeks

Erika’s third pregnancy started off perfectly normal until the 20 weeks ultrasound when she first heard mention of her placenta covering the opening of the cervix. After being told repeatedly not to worry because 99.5% of low-lying placentas move by the third trimester, it was confirmed at 28 weeks that her placenta previa was central and would likely not be going anywhere. A scheduled cesarean was a must.

After two episodes of severe bleeding at 33 weeks, Erika was hospitalized and taken to have an emergency cesarean. The cesarean went smoothly, but baby had to be taken to the NICU and the next day, Erika needed a blood transfusion. Her journey to parenthood started with 2 weeks in the NICU and lots of pumping; but, once baby came home they both recovered very quickly. After some trial and error, Erika and her baby boy happily transitioned to exclusive breastfeeding and lots of snuggling at home.

Erika Cazeneuve Bio

Erika lives in Long Island, New York with her super supportive husband, Dan, their sweet baby boy, Tyber, and their two lovable cats Frankie and Moo. Erika and Dan both own their own business as Live Event Artists, Erika Event Painting, and Captured on Canvas. They each paint weddings (and other special events) live on canvas, creating a work of art for the bride and groom to take home with them. Erika has a great passion for travel and is so excited to discover the world together with her husband and their little one. You can connect with Erika on Instagram @erikaeventpainting and Facebook.

Resources

Crane

This episode is sponsored by Crane Humidifiers. Crane’s colorful humidifiers are a nursery necessity to help relieve your baby’s tiny congested nose, which can make feeding and sleeping a struggle for both baby and mom. A happy baby is a healthy baby. Crane is generously offering $10 OFF and free shipping on all of their full-priced 1 gallon adorable animal shaped humidifiers and drop humidifiers with the code BIRTH18 at www.crane-usa.com.

Hospital Birth with Epidural

Claire is 6 foot, so she was never going to have a small baby; however, she only started to worry when she went a week overdue. Claire was pretty sure her baby was going to be massive, and she was. Both Claire and her husband, Rich, had decided to go Team Green and so only knew they were having ‘a baby’. Both expected a boy, but having had three early miscarriages prior to the birth, neither honestly cared so long as the baby was healthy. Claire was feeling very grumpy the day she went into labour. She had some scares, which turned out to be Braxton Hicks warm ups, and so she went for a long waddle to Tesco where she was poo’ed on by a bird. That afternoon, she started to go into early labor. Having sent Rich off to bed (the philosophy being at least one of them would get some sleep) Claire then labored long into the night, until she was told to come into the hospital at 4am by her midwives. Early assessment showed Claire was actually slowing down, so she and Rich were sent up to ‘Level 5’ of the hospital where they waited it out for a further 20 hours without sleep or drugs. Even meptid given at 12am on that second night didn’t touch it. This wasn’t fun, as Claire was pretty sure she was in established labor despite the long waits between strong contractions.

She was right, and at 5am Claire was finally sent to delivery by a very bossy and wonderful chief midwife. Here she was given an epidural and was looked after by two young, bubbly midwives, Daisy and Amy. You’re not meant to have a party in a delivery room, but they did anyway. With the help of drugs to speed the contractions on and having her waters broken for her, the baby made its way down the birth canal. 9 hours later it became clear Claire needed an episiotomy. Artemis popped out very quickly and amazed everyone when they realized she was a girl, not the expected boy (Claire was secretly very chuffed). Cuddles and nursing were done while Claire was stitched (Artemis will still to this day try to root on Rich) and the parents were lucky enough to be left in the delivery room to sleep until they were moved up to a ward. The whole thing was very relaxed!

Claire Lycett Bio

Claire lives in Abingdon Oxfordshire via Kent and London and works for the Women’s Institute residential college as a senior manager. She is married to Rich, with whom she went to university at Birmingham, but they didn’t meet until they converged at their mutual best friend’s wedding where Claire caught the bouquet and also Rich. They live in a small suburb and are ridiculously tired and happy. Claire used to teach courses on the side on film stars of the Hollywood Golden era but is finding time a little constrained now they have their baby Artemis. Not that she minds!

Ava Women

This episode is sponsored by Ava Women. Wear the Ava bracelet while you sleep for effortless insight about your fertility, your cycle, and your health. Ava monitors nine physiological parameters and is clinically proven to detect the beginning of the fertile window in real time. You can use the promo code: BIRTHSTORIES for $20 off each order at avawomen.com.